Daytona Rogue

Daytona Beach residents of 30 years said they had never seen anything like it. A rogue wave 27 miles long, 18 feet high, and 250 feet wide suddenly rose out of a calm sea and crashed ashore. Apparently triggered by an undersea landslide, the huge wave piled sailboats on top of vehicles along a popular drive on the Florida beach.

This bizarre Daytona moment is a snapshot of life. There is no escape from the unexpected. There is no way to foresee the unpredictable. Everywhere we turn there are potential calamities. And worrying about such things won’t give us a shred of security.

The psalmist found the answer to living joyfully in an uncertain world. Because he understood the heart of a shepherd, he found security in remembering that God’s people are the sheep of His pasture (Ps. 95:7). The mountains, valleys, seas, and dry ground are in His hand (vv.4-5). Every hill and wave come under His careful attention.

Unpredictability seems like a reason for anxiety. But the psalmist didn’t have time to worry about what might happen. Instead, he made the choice to praise his Maker, who never loses control. We can make the same choice.